Floating breakwater



Jan. 2, 1940.

1.. GILIASSO 2,185,458

FLOATING BREAKWATER Filed July 14, 1939 WW :5 W A N u MM Al r m mm ""qhh ATTORNEY was Jan. 2, 1940 PATENT OFFICE mama am Louis Giiiam, New

orleamla,asslgnorto'rho Texas Company, New York, N. I, a corporation of Delaware Applioation July 14, 1989, Serial N9. 284,472 3 Claim!- (01.61-)

' This invention relates to a floating breakwater and more particularly to a device adapted to break and smooth out waves which would otherwise impinge upon a structure such as a sub- 5 merged. drilling or pumping barge foundation engaged in producing a well in a subaqueous location. a

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which .will be simple and inexpensive to construct and which can easily be placed in position and subsequently moved to another location.

In well drilling and other well producing operations in underwater locations, it is common to. use as a foundation a submerged barge on which the derrick and other equipment are mounted. In some places it is possible to use mat or piling foundations although these are usually more suitable to shallow waters. Where submerged barges or other foundations are used in open water, it is often difficult to secure a boat to the foundation so as to load or unload equipment and this is particularly true in rough weather since the waves frequently strike and break over the foundation with considerable force.

In carrying out the present invention, a device has been provided for breaking and smoothing out the waves which would otherwise strike the so foundation. ,The device comprises an elongated float member or series of float members anchored to the bottom and extending along the seaward side of the submerged structure. Plate members depending from the floats serve to break up the 35 waves and upwardly projecting fins smooth out those waves which may pass over the floats.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the acompanying drawing in which:

0 Figure l is a. longitudinal elevation;

Figure 2 is a plan showing the relative arrangement of the breakwater and a protected structure, while Figure 3 is a side sectional elevation taken on 5 the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, an elongated, tubular, water-tight float member 10 is designed to havesuflicient buoyancy to remain afloat about half submerged in the water. Secured to and 50 depending from the lower surface of the float I0 is a plate I! preferably of metal. As will be observed with reference to Figure 1, the plate l2 extends throughout substantially the entire length of the float l0 and reenforcing stays I4 55 secured to the float and also to the plate I; serve to stiffen the latter. Secured to and projecting substantially upwardly from the upper surface of the float III are a plurality of fins 16, these flns being arranged preferably in parallel rows and extending throughout the length of the float. 6 Suitable anchors l8 are attached to the lower edge of the plate I! or to one of the reenforcing stays Ilby means of chains or other cables 20.

As shown in Figure 2, three of the float units, A, B and C are attachedtogether end to end by 10 means of suitablecables 22 and the three units are anchored at the seaward side of a submerged barge or, other foundation 24.

' As will be observed by referring to Figure 3, the depending plates I! serve to break up waves 1 moving to the left, i. e., toward the foundation 24 while the flns l8 smooth out the waves passing over the float members III. With this arrangement thew'aves are so. smoothed, even in very 'rough waters, that there is no'trouble or danger 20 in approaching or leaving the foundation 24 or in tying a boat thereto such as for unloading a quantity of drill pipe or other material.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention as above set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated by the appended claims. v I

I claim: v I 1. A floating breakwater comprising an elongated water-tight, buoyant member, a plate secured to and depending from said member, reenforcing stays secured to said member and said plate, a plurality of longitudinally extending fins attached to and projecting, substantially upwardly from said elongated member so as to aid in smoothing waves passing over said member, and anchor means attached to the lower edge of said plate.

2. A device for protecting a well drilling or pumping foundation in a subaqueous location from waves, comprising a plurality of elongated tubular float members disposed end to end, means for flexibly connecting adjacent ends of said members, a metallic plate member secured to and depending from the underside of each of said float members, reenforcing stays connected to said float members and said plate members for stiffening the latter, and anchors attached to the lower edge of each plate member.

3. A device for protecting a submarine well drilling or pumping barge from waves comprising a plurality of elongated tubular float members disposed end to end, means for flexibly connecting adjacent tlally rectangular metallic plate member secured upper surface of each of said float members, said fins being arranged in parallel rows and extendmembers, and anchors attached to the lower edge 5 substanof each plate member.

tially upwardly projecting fins secured to the 

